, title =
, image = BishopSebouh.jpg
, image_size =
, caption = Archbishop Sebouh Chouldjian
, church =
Armenian Apostolic Church
, native_name_lang = hy
, icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg
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Diocese of Gougark
The Diocese of Gougark ( hy, Գուգարաց թեմ ''Gougarats t'em''), is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church encompassing the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is named after the historic province of Gugark; the 13th province of th ...
, see = Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
, elected =
, appointed = 3 June 1996
, ended = 19 November 2020
, term_start =
, quashed =
, term_end =
, predecessor =
, opposed =
, successor =
, other_post =
, ordination = 7 June 1987
, ordained_by = Archbishop
Nerses Pozapalian
Archbishop Nerses ( hy, Տեր Ներսես արքեպիսկոպոս) (born Hakob Pozapalian) (5 July 1937 – 27 June 2009) was a senior bishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Early life and education
Pozapalian was born in 1937 in the ...
, consecration = 15 June 1997
, consecrated_by =
Karekin I
Karekin I ( Armenian: ) (August 27, 1932 – June 29, 1999) served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1994 and 1999. Previously, he served as the Catholicos of Cilicia from 1983 to 1994 as Karekin II ( Armenian: ).
...
, cardinal =
, rank =
, birth_name = Haik Sarkis Chouldjian
, birth_date =
, birth_place =
Malatya
Malatya ( hy, Մալաթիա, translit=Malat'ya; Syro-Aramaic ܡܠܝܛܝܢܐ Malīṭīná; ku, Meletî; Ancient Greek: Μελιτηνή) is a large city in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey and the capital of Malatya Province. The city ha ...
, Turkey
, death_date =
, death_place =
Yerevan
Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Y ...
, Armenia
, buried = Prelacy of the
Diocese of Gougark
The Diocese of Gougark ( hy, Գուգարաց թեմ ''Gougarats t'em''), is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church encompassing the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is named after the historic province of Gugark; the 13th province of th ...
,
Vanadzor
Vanadzor ( hy, Վանաձոր) is an urban municipal community and the third-largest city in Armenia, serving as the capital of Lori Province in the northern part of the country. It is located about north of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 cen ...
, Armenia
, nationality =
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
, religion =
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Archbishop Sebouh Chouldjian ((24 March 1959 – 19 November 2020)
born Haik Sarkis Chouldjian; hy, Սեպուհ արքեպիսկոպոս Չուլճեան; tr, Başpiskopos Sebuh Çulcuyan; russian: link=no, Архиепископ Сепух Чулджян; also Sebuh, Sepouh, Sepuh, Chuljian, Tchuljian, Chuljyan, Çulciyan)) was the metropolite of the
Diocese of Gougark
The Diocese of Gougark ( hy, Գուգարաց թեմ ''Gougarats t'em''), is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church encompassing the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is named after the historic province of Gugark; the 13th province of th ...
of the Holy
Armenian Apostolic Church
, native_name_lang = hy
, icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg
, icon_width = 100px
, icon_alt =
, image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg
, imagewidth = 250px
, a ...
.
Biography
Haik Chouldjian was born on 24 March 1959 in
Malatya
Malatya ( hy, Մալաթիա, translit=Malat'ya; Syro-Aramaic ܡܠܝܛܝܢܐ Malīṭīná; ku, Meletî; Ancient Greek: Μελιτηνή) is a large city in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey and the capital of Malatya Province. The city ha ...
, Turkey.
He received his primary education at the Nersisian College of Istanbul.
In 1969, his family resettled in
Soviet Armenia
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic,; russian: Армянская Советская Социалистическая Республика, translit=Armyanskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika) also commonly referred to as Soviet A ...
,
in the city of
Gyumri
Gyumri ( hy, Գյումրի, ) is an urban municipal community and the second-largest city in Armenia, serving as the administrative center of Shirak Province in the northwestern part of the country. By the end of the 19th century, when the city w ...
, where he continued and finished his primary education.
In 1978 he entered the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary
Gevorkian Theological Seminary ( hy, Գևորգյան Հոգևոր Ճեմարան ''Gevorkyan Hogevor Č̣emaran''), also known as Gevorkian Seminary ( hy, Գևրգյան Ճեմարան ''Gevorkyan Č̣emaran'', ), is a theological university-ins ...
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1985, by the Grand Sacristan of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archbishop Hoosik Santourian. He successfully defended his final thesis entitled "''The Translation Works of Lukas of Kharpert''" in March 1986. Upon his graduation from the seminary he was appointed to serve in the Secretariat of the Pontifical Administration.
He was ordained as a celibate priest by Archbishop
Nerses Pozapalian
Archbishop Nerses ( hy, Տեր Ներսես արքեպիսկոպոս) (born Hakob Pozapalian) (5 July 1937 – 27 June 2009) was a senior bishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Early life and education
Pozapalian was born in 1937 in the ...
on 7 June 1987, the Feast of
Pentecost
Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christianity, Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in the Ne ...
, and given the priestly name Sebouh. Following his ordination, he continued his service in the Pontifical Administration.
By the appointment of
Vazgen I
Vazgen I also Vazken I of Bucharest, (), born Levon Garabed Baljian ( hy, Լևոն Կարապետ Աբրահամի Պալճյան; September 20, 1908 – August 18, 1994) was the Catholicos of All Armenians between 1955 and 1994, for a total of 39 ...
, Catholicos of All Armenians, he served as the Vice Dean of the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary
Gevorkian Theological Seminary ( hy, Գևորգյան Հոգևոր Ճեմարան ''Gevorkyan Hogevor Č̣emaran''), also known as Gevorkian Seminary ( hy, Գևրգյան Ճեմարան ''Gevorkyan Č̣emaran'', ), is a theological university-ins ...
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in September 1987. In November 1989, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled "''The Fast in the
Armenian Apostolic Church
, native_name_lang = hy
, icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg
, icon_width = 100px
, icon_alt =
, image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg
, imagewidth = 250px
, a ...
''," and received the rank of Archimandrite (
Vardapet
A vardapet or vartabed ( hy, վարդապետ, in Western Armenian or aɾda'pεtin Eastern Armenian) is a highly educated archimandrite in the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Catholic Church traditions who holds a Doctorate in Theol ...
).
In 1990,
Vazgen I
Vazgen I also Vazken I of Bucharest, (), born Levon Garabed Baljian ( hy, Լևոն Կարապետ Աբրահամի Պալճյան; September 20, 1908 – August 18, 1994) was the Catholicos of All Armenians between 1955 and 1994, for a total of 39 ...
appointed Father Sebouh to serve as the spiritual pastor of the Armenians of
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...
, Switzerland. He returned to Armenia in 1991 to serve as the Vicar of the Diocese of Shirak.
After
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
gained independence, vast administrative tasks were placed on the Armenian Church. In the summer of 1993, Father Sebouh worked closely with
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (the then primate of the Diocese of Canada) and Ronald Alepian to organize the first mission of
Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA). In June 1995, Father Sebouh was appointed to serve as the Director of the Reserve Stewardship Inventory Committee of the Armenian Church. Also in that same year, he was appointed to serve as the Director of the committee responsible for tracking the return and receipt of all previously confiscated church buildings, land and construction projects (most of the churches, buildings, structures and properties belonging to the Church had been seized by the State during the time of the Soviet Regime).
In 1996, he served as the representative of the Armenian Church on the Humanitarian Aid Central Committee of Armenia. On 3 June 1996, by the Pontifical Encyclical of the
Karekin I
Karekin I ( Armenian: ) (August 27, 1932 – June 29, 1999) served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1994 and 1999. Previously, he served as the Catholicos of Cilicia from 1983 to 1994 as Karekin II ( Armenian: ).
...
, Catholicos of All Armenians, he was appointed to serve as the Primate of the
Diocese of Gougark
The Diocese of Gougark ( hy, Գուգարաց թեմ ''Gougarats t'em''), is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church encompassing the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is named after the historic province of Gugark; the 13th province of th ...
.
Father Chouldjian was consecrated as Bishop by Catholicos
Karekin I
Karekin I ( Armenian: ) (August 27, 1932 – June 29, 1999) served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1994 and 1999. Previously, he served as the Catholicos of Cilicia from 1983 to 1994 as Karekin II ( Armenian: ).
...
on 15 June 1997. He was a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Church during 2000–2007. On 18 May 2012 he received title of Archbishop.
Archbishop Sebouh Chouldjian served as the Primate of the
Diocese of Gougark
The Diocese of Gougark ( hy, Գուգարաց թեմ ''Gougarats t'em''), is a diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church encompassing the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is named after the historic province of Gugark; the 13th province of th ...
in Armenia. Chouldjian died on 19 November 2020 due to
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.
Candidacy for Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
Co-Patriarch candidacy in 2010
Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian was one of the three candidates for the Co-Patriarch at the
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople ( tr, İstanbul Ermeni Patrikhanesi; Western hy, Պատրիարքութիւն Հայոց Կոստանդնուպոլսոյ, ''Badriark'ut'iun Hayots' Gosdantnubolsoy'') is an autonomous See. The seat of ...
in 2010.
Mesrop II Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople was diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...
in July 2008, and was incapable of running the Patriarchate since then. This led the Armenian community to a painful condition of uncertainty. In late 2009, the Patriarchate's Religious Council wrote to the Turkish government seeking permission to elect a coadjutor (co-Patriarch).
Three bishops stated that they were going to run for the elections: Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, Archbishop Karekin Bekchian – the Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Germany, and Archbishop Aram Ateshian – the chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Patriarchate of Istanbul.
Among the main ideas proposed by Bishop Sebouh as a candidate was that the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople should become a spiritual and cultural bridge among Yerevan, Ankara and the Armenian Diaspora. He paid particular attention to the importance of dialogue among Armenians and between Turkish and Armenian people.
On 10–17 February 2010 Bishop Sebouh visited
Istanbul
Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
, Turkey to have meetings with the Armenian community of Istanbul. During his meetings and interviews he urged to continue
Hrant Dink
Hrant Dink ( hy, Հրանդ Տինք; Western ; 15 September 1954 – 19 January 2007) was a Turkish-Armenian intellectual, editor-in-chief of ''Agos'', journalist and columnist.
As editor-in-chief of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspa ...
's way (i.e. dialogue between Armenian and Turkish people) and keep Armenian Patriarchate free from politics.
On 29 June 2010 the government of Turkey made a decision to reject the request of the Armenian community of Turkey to allow co-patriarch elections. The Turkish Government said that they did not find the elections of either patriarch or co-patriarch reasonable and allowed carrying out only the elections of Patriarchal Locum Tenens.
Hours later Archbishop Shahan Svajian – the that time Locum Tenens, resigned and the Spiritual council of the Patriarchate elected Archbishop Aram Ateshian a new Patriarchal Locum Tenens.
However, according to some experts, the Armenian Community of Turkey was inclined to elect Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian (citizen of Armenia) as their spiritual leader which was disallowed by the Turkish government after unsuccessful negotiations of Armenia-Turkey reconciliation.
Later, in his letter to the Armenian Community of Turkey from 15 July 2010 Bishop Sebouh mentioned that interference of Turkey's Government was in contradiction with the adopted new policy on dealing with ethnic minorities. "We continue to hope that this is not the manner of actions of
Erdoğan's government, but that of the stationary state sub-agencies, which hamper the democratic development of Turkey with their old mentality".
Bishop Sebouh said it was the moral obligation of Archbishop Aram Ateshian to send a new letter to the Turkey's Government with request to hold the elections of Co-Patriarch.
Protests were raised within the Armenian community, though it was hardly possible to hold new patriarch elections as long as the current patriarch Mesrop II was alive. The "We Want to Elect Our Own Patriarch Initiative" remained active and held silent protests in Armenian churches on Sundays. Archbishop Sebouh occasionally visited Turkey and expressed his position and opinion on issues warring the community.
Patriarch candidacy in 2016
2016 gave rise to a new wave of demands to eventually elect the head of the Armenian Church in Turkey. In spring 2016 two of the four main candidates, Archbishop Sebouh and Archbishop Karekin Bekdjian urged that there be patriarch election "now". Archbishop Sebouh declared that should there be election of patriarch there was no obstacle for him to be a candidate. "If the society finds me qualified for solving the problems of Armenian society and the patriarchate, I am ready to serve by considering it as a holy duty," he said. In June 2016 a group of Turkish Armenians protested in front of the Armenian Patriarchate against being denied the right to replace acting Locum Tenens Aram Ateşyan whose reputation was compromised after his letter to president
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (born 26 February 1954) is a Turkish politician serving as the List of presidents of Turkey, 12th and current president of Turkey since 2014. He previously served as prime minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as Lis ...
, wherein he criticized a recent decision by the German Bundestag recognizing the World War I-era killings of Anatolian Armenians. In October 2016 the Clerical Assembly of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey decided to superannuate the Patriarch Mesrob II on the grounds that he has been unable to perform his duty for 7 years and announced that there will be an application for starting the election process.
Patriarch candidacy in 2019
On 8 March 2019 Patriarch Mutafian died at the age of 62. This event provoked new discussions about the patriarch elections. Back then experts predicted that the two main candidates for the patriarch would be Archbishops Sebouh Chouldjian and Aram Ateshian.
On 27 September 2019 Archbishop Sebouh Chouldjian released a statement requiring from the Turkish government to restore the original text of the 25th clause of canonical regulation which was violating the rights of bishops from outside Turkey.
In October 2019, following Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan, Archbishop Sebouh called on Archbishops Sahak Mashalyan and Aram Ateshian to rise above personal ambitions and consider the long-term interest of the Armenian community and stand in favor of supporting the rights of bishops outside Turkey.
On 5 December 2019 Archbishop Sebouh released an official statement regarding the election of 85th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, indicating that he "forgives everyone", who caused his disentitlement. He said: "It is now beyond any doubt, that the reason for the staging of the "canonical change" was myself, since the support for me by a significant portion of faithful Armenian people in Turkey could be decisive". He condemned this as an outrageous historical injustice and indirectly pointed out the nefarious role of Archbishops Sahak Mashalyan and Aram Ateshian.
On 11 December 2019 Bishop Mashalian was announced the 85th Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Honors and awards
Archbishop Sebouh was a member of the Armenian branch of the International Academy of Natural and Social Sciences (since 2000).
He held
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (; 10 October 186113 May 1930) was a Norwegian polymath and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He gained prominence at various points in his life as an explorer, scientist, diplomat, and humanitarian. He led the team t ...
Golden Medal (2005), Republic of Armenia Prime Minister's Medal for vast contribution in development of state-church relations (2006), Hayrenik Gold Medal (2010).
On 24 March 2009, Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan
Tigran Sureni Sargsyan ( hy, Տիգրան Սուրենի Սարգսյան, born 29 January 1960) is an Armenian political figure who was Prime Minister of Armenia from 2008 to 2014. Previously he was Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia from 1 ...
warmly congratulated Archbishop Sebouh on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of birthday. In his message he emphasized Bishop Sebouh's input in organizing Christian education, revivification of church life and restoration of ethnic and spiritual identity of the Armenian nation.
Gallery
File:Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian of the Diocese of Gougark.jpg, Archbishop Sebouh Chouldjian
File:BishopSebouhDuringLiturgy.jpg, Archbishop Sebouh during Liturgy
File:Bishop Sebuh meeting with representatives of Armenian Community in Istanbul.JPG, Archbishop Sebouh with representatives of Istanbul Armenian Community
File:Bishop Sebouh At Hrant Dink's Grave.JPG, Archbishop Sebouh at the grave of Hrant Dink
Hrant Dink ( hy, Հրանդ Տինք; Western ; 15 September 1954 – 19 January 2007) was a Turkish-Armenian intellectual, editor-in-chief of ''Agos'', journalist and columnist.
As editor-in-chief of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspa ...
in Istanbul
Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
, Turkey
File:BishopSebouhWiththeFaithful.jpg, Archbishop Sebouh blessing the faithful
File:Bishop Sebouh - Washing of Feet.jpg, Archbishop Sebouh washing the feet of children during the Washing of Feet
Maundy (from Old French ''mandé'', from Latin ''mandatum'' meaning "command"), or Washing of the Saints' Feet, Washing of the Feet, or Pedelavium or Pedilavium, is a religious rite observed by various Christian denominations. The Latin word ...
ceremony
See also
* Photo gallery of the meeting of the members of the Organization of Istanbul Armenians with Bishop Sebouh a
oia.net
References
External links
Biography
*In English:
*In Armenian:
*In Turkish:
*In Russian
News Articles
: In English
2016-11-09: Sebouh Chouldjian to nominate candidacy in election of Armenian patriarch of Istanbul2016-03-17: Their Eminences spoke: there should be an election now2010-10-09: Christian summer camps flourishing in Vanadzor2010-09-29: MHP plans Friday prayer protest at eastern Turkey's Ani – Hürriyet Daily News2010-08-12: Armenian Church officials to attend service in SE Turkey – Hürriyet Daily News2010-07-16: Bishop Sepuh Chuljyan: "It Is Your Duty To Build Your Home" – RA Ministry of Diaspora2010-03-30: Istanbul’s Armenian community wishes to see Sebouh Chouldjian as co-patriarch – PanArmenianNet2009-06-07: Bishop Chuljyan, potential replacement for Patriarch Mesrob II, talks of peace2010-03-13: Members of Clergy Meet with His Grace Bishop Sebouh Chouljian2008-12-21: A meeting with Turkish historian and journalist Osman Koker in Vanadzor2007-10-01: Availing opportunities for deaf and mute people: In Turkish
18, 2009&i=223965 2009-11-18: Kompleksimizle yüzleşmeliyiz: In Russian
*[http://www.bogoslov.ru/text/592687/index.html 2010-02-12: На пост Константинопольского Патриарха Армянской Апостольской Церкви зарегистрировались три кандидата]
Articles and letters by Sebouh Chouldjian
*
*
Preachings
*
About Malice – Bishop Sepouh Chouljian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese of GougarkBaptism in a Shak
Others about Sebouh Chouldjian
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chouldjian, Sebouh
1959 births
2020 deaths
People from Malatya
Turkish people of Armenian descent
Primates of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Oriental Orthodox Christians
20th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops
21st-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops
Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia